JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 12/28/05

Blueberry Hill-Mose Allison
Blowin' The Blues Away-Horace Silver
Moanin'-Wes Montgomery
Ray-El-Elvin Jones
Tendin' To Business-Dave Pike
Workout-Hank Mobley
Blues Melba-Melba Liston
Blue Monk-Abbey Lincoln
Two Bass Hit-Buck Hill
Berkshire Blues-Randy Weston
Annie Laurie-Tiny Grimes
Blow for the Crossing-Billy Butler
A Fickle Sonance-Jackie McClean
Interplay-Bill Evans Quintet w/Freddie Hubbard
Sweet Fire-Rahsaan Roland Kirk
The Man I Love-Ada Moore The Phantom-Duke Pearson
Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly-Ethel Ennis
Guitar Willie-Chico Hamilton
Weird Beard-Joe Alexander
The Boiler-Brother Jack
Village-Blue Mitchell
Up Above the Rock-Ray Bryant
Burning Spear-Kenny Burrell
Time Is Right Now-Gemini Brass
Boo!-Groove Holmes and Ernie Watts Miss Poopie-Jimmy McGriff
Them Changes-Ramsey Lewis
I Don't Nobody To Give Me Nothin'/Cold Sweat-Grant Green
Benign Beginning-LaMont Johnson

JAZZ CORNER TONITE!

1847 14th Street, corner of 14th and T. FREE, no cover. Jazz from all corners, from classic hard bop to funky and free. Every Wednesday from 7pm-10pm DCDigga and DJ Birdman host the best Jazz Happy Hour in DC!

Quote of the Day
"There's no cure for life."
-Johnny Cash

LAST JAZZ CORNER.......of 2005
DCDigga and DJ Birdman, your weekly hosts

As the end of one year rolls to a close, the future looms large on the horizon. I just want to take this opportunity to thank all the folks who have made the Jazz Corner such a success and so much fun! All the folks at Saint-Ex who help us bring you this music every week, and who have had so much faith in us, your efforts are truly appreciated! All the people who have come down and had a drink(or 6) and enjoyed the groove and have come back for more, we especially appreciate you!

This week DJ Birdman will be helming the decks for 3 solid hours of groove. And as a special honor, the Jazz Corner welcomes Twin Cities music scribe, radio host and Jazz connoisseur, Mr Tom Surowicz! Tom has been a good friend for many years, and has selflessly shared knowledge, sent LPs, and otherwise encouraged a young Birdman to do his homework and get it right when it comes to delivering quality entertainment. Hopefully we can get the bearded master to at least handpick some numbers while he soaks up the atmosphere of the cozy Gate 54 Lounge at Saint-Ex.

So get on the bus, start your car, or jump on the metro, we start at 7pm sharp, and the jazz pumps till 10pm. After that, you are on yer own, folks!

Quote of the Day
"Art is the ability to tell the truth, especially about oneself."
-Richard Pryor

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 12/21/05

Roy Ayers-DC City
Roy Ayers-We Live In Brooklyn,Baby
Willie Bobo & Bo-Gents-Thrill Is Gone
Donald Byrd & 125th Street-Fell Like Loving You Today
Jorge Dalto-I've Got You On My Mind
Elizeth Cardoso-Cidade Vizaze
Cullen Knight-Pshalom
Ronnie Laws-If You Knew

Idris Muhammad-Loren's Dance
Idris Muhammad-Power of Soul
Cal Tjader-Temo Teimoso
Bob James Suite:
-Storm King
-Nautilus
-Take Me To The Mardi Gras
Philadelphia-Inner City Blues

Grover Washington,Jr-Knucklehead
Herb Geller-The Power Of A Smile
Norman Connors-Laughter
Sergio Mendes & Brasil'65-Berimbau
Ahmad Jamal-You're Welcome, Stop On By
Stan Kenton-Inner Crisis

Unity-Kitty Bey
Charles Earland-Betty Boop
Eddie Henderson-Inside You
Bobby Forrester-Funky Fly
Mongo Santamaria-Cloud Nine
Buddy Rich-Big Mac
Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers-Superfly

UPCOMING JES GREW EVENTS:
WEEK OF DECEMBER 12th, 2005
Your monthly dose of classic club hits, dancehall scorchers and new and classic hip hop comes back around to Cafe Saint-Ex's Gate 54 this coming Saturday night, December 17th! Last one was packed from the front to the back, so come early, grab some dinner(either upstairs in the Cafe OR in the lounge downstairs) and stay and dance all night. It will be a whole month til the next one, so get in on the last Jump Off of the year!
And on this coming Wednesday, drop by Saint-Ex after work for the weekly residence to end 'em all, the Jazz Corner of the World! Be sure that the holiday season will see DJ Birdman mixing some of the finest Christmas songs by the finest Jazz musicians ever recorded with the usual classic performances. Make sure that this week you roll by early, as we start at 6pm and go until 9pm, as the monthly iPod Night starts at 9pm. So come down, and bring your iPod so we can stack the deck with Jazz fans! See ya there!

Quote of the Day
"Dance is vulnerability; it's about giving your love, light, generosity."
-Judith Jamison

JAZZ CORNER WEDNESDAY w/DCDIGGA

This week's set is another excellent installment from DCDigga, the funky sound architect about town. Fresh from sitting in on Nitekrawler's Friday night funk set on www.beattactics.com, he will keep that flow flowing on Wednesday nite in the Gate 54 lounge, downstairs at famous Cafe Saint-Ex. Stop in and ask Benjy the bartender about the happy hour drink specials while you soak in DCDigga's selections.
Speaking of DJ Nitekrawler, the local funk researcher and skilled DJ will be putting in the work to bring you HEAT! tonight. Yes, that's HEAT!, Nitekrawler's funk-only event, served up the first Tuesday of every month at Gate 54/Saint-Ex. It all jumps off tonite at 10pm, so don't hesitate! Get out of the cold and mingle to some serious funk at HEAT!

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Whose got time to keep up with the times?"
-Bob Dylan

Web Radio Spotlight: BEATTACTICS.comOur friends at 24 hour web radio www.beattactics.com have offered the Jes Grew team some on-air sessions from their studio in the heart of Washington DC, and DCDigga enthusiatically accepted their challenge! Spinning until the wee(I mean WEE) hours of the morning this past Monday, his sets will be airing throughout the coming days, so drop in and give the new station a listen! I have been told by the good folks at Beattactics that all the sets will eventually be archived as well for easy access at some point in the near future.

While DCDigga's sets were chock-a-block with the kind of funky, groove oriented jazz he is known for, the main focus on the station so far is hip hop in it's many varieties. The Beattactics team are extremely encouraging of local DJs and crews, so if you are a local DC DJ or a DJ coming through town looking to drop some mixes, visit the site and establish contact. It runs 24-7 and is available world wide thru the miracle of the internets! I will be dropping some soul and jazz sets myself hopefully within the month, so I will keep everyone posted as to when I will be going in live.

Tune in and support local worldwide radio!

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 11/30/05
Bobby Hutcherson-Montara
Grant Green-Solid
Abbey Lincoln-Painted Lady
JJ Johnson-Turnpike
Hank Mobley-A Slice of the Top
Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington-Duke's Place
Bennie Green-Walkin' and Talkin'
Lee Morgan-Cornbread
Ramsey Lewis-Function at the Junction
Horace Silver-Juicy Lucy
Gerald Wilson Orchestra-Watermelon Man
Herbie Mann w/Johnny Rae's Afro Jazz Septet-St. Thomas
Horace Silver-Psychedelic Sally
Grant Green-It's Your Thing
Wes Montgomery-California Dreamin'
Pat Martino-Sunny
Wilton Felder-Theme from 'Bullit'
Art Farmer-Soulsides
Randy Weston-In Memory Of
Herbie Mann-Today
Ahmad Jamal-Say a Little Prayer
Bobbi Humphrey-I Love Every Little Thing About You
Hilton Felton-Bee Bop Boogie
Ronnie Foster-Back Stabbers
Blue Mitchell-The Message
LaMont Johnson-Benign Beginning
Rusty Bryant-The Hump Bump
The Lightmen Plus One-The PhantomJu-Par Universal Orchestra-Mocha Velvet
Hampton Hawes-Web
Azar Lawrence-Kickin' Back
Bobbi Humphrey-Smiling Faces

Quote of the Day
"You can jail a revolutionary, but you can't jail the revolution."
-Fred Hampton

JAZZ CORNER TOMORROW!

The weekly event that brings you the finest music from around the world is back again this week, this time with DJ Birdman bringing you your helping of that good stuff.

Things get swinging at 7pm sharp, and continue on til 10pm. All you have to do is peruse our playlists from past weeks to know that we come to have fun, but we are serious as a heart attack when it comes to the music.

So bring a friend, come early and stay late in the best local lounge on 14th Street.
You be glad you did.

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 11/23/05

Yellow Sunshine-Along the Seashore
Jimmy McGriff-Space Cadet
Doug Lucas-One For You
David Newman-Lovely Avenue
Gary Bartz Ntu Troop Suite:
-Celestial Blues
-Dr. Follows Dance
-People's Dance
-Brtha Baptist
-Winding Roads
-Mother Nature
Ahmad Jamal Suite:
-Nature Boy
-Misdemeanor
-You're Welcome, Stop On By
-Spanish Interlude
John Handy-Hard Work
Oliver Sain-On the Hill
Galt MacDermott-Ripped Open By Metal Explosives
Phoenix Authority-Come Together
Alain Goraguer-LeBracelet
Bill Conti-Packed Up
Billy Brooks-Fourty Days
Brian Bennett-Solstice
Travis Briggs-Tibetian Serenity
Jimmy Gordon-Walter L
Harold McKinney-Freedom Jazz Dance
Jimmy Ponder-While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Cannonball Adderley-Hummin'
Dorothy Ashby-Soul Vibration
Madelaine-Who Is He and What is He to You
Eddie Henderson-Kumquat Kids
Daniel Janim-Fat, Fat Fellow
Johnny Harris-Light My Fire
Mongo Santamaria-Cloud Nine
Eddie Fisher-Jeremiah Puckett

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Ego has always been a paradox--it is the point from which you see, but it also makes you blind."
-Bill Russell

IT'S NEXT WEEK ALREADY!
(BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU GOT)

A special Thanksgiving eve presentation of The Jazz Corner of the World with this week's host and musical director, DCDigga!

DCDigga puts in the work to bring you the finest in spiritual vibes and jazzy funk. Tireless in his endeavors and joyful in his presentation, his sets are illuminating, insightful and always deeply deeply funky.

So come out Wednesday night and give thanks early and often!

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where theives and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.”
-Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 11/16/05

Lou Donaldson-South of the Border
Harold Land-The Fox
Cannonball Adderley-P.Bouk
Hank Mobley-A Caddy For Daddy
Elvin Jones-Lady Luck
Lee Morgan-The Stroker


Miles Davis Quintet-So What (Live in Stockholm 1961)
Jazz Crusaders-Doin' That Thing
Music Inc.-Drought
Dizzy Gillespie-Bang!Bang!
Mose Allison-Wild Man on the Loose
Jon Hendricks-I'll Die Happy
Lambert, Hendricks and Ross-Gimme That Wine
Moe Koffman-Canteloupe Island
Rahsaan Roland Kirk-Bright Moments

Sun Ra-Where Pathways Meet
Milt Jackson-The Metal Melter
Roy Ayers-DC City
Eddie Henderson-Kudu
Oscar Peterson-Teenager
Catalyst-Ain't It The Truth
Lightmen Plus One-Blues For Curtis
Bobbie Humphrey-Uno Esta
Ju-Par Universal Orchestra-Flute Salad

Johnny Hammond-Gears
Donald Byrd-Stepping Into Tomorrow
The 3 Pieces-Shortnin' Bread
Buddy Rich Big Band Machine-Yearnin' Learnin'
Lou Donaldson-Sanford and Son Theme

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“So until we see you again, bright moments and keep searchin’ for your mystery note on the universal piano of life. ”
-Rahsaan Roland Kirk
*aquired at this great site

JAZZ CORNER PLAYLIST 11/09/05

DCDigga was on decks and stirring up some jazz trouble last Wednesday, and was joined by local Funk researcher and all-around hot DJ, DJ Nitecrawler. Nitecrawler spins regularly at Wonderland Ballroom down the street, and has his own monthly of Funk at Saint-Ex called HEAT. The next hot serving of funk takes place Nov 22, this next Tuesday. Be there.

Wednesday was a fun night, but that's just what we do each and every Wednesday at the Jazz Corner. Always some soulful fun and good company.

THE PLAYLIST 11/09/05

Hugh Masekela-Been Such a Long Time Gone
Sergio Mendes &Brasil '66-Righteous Life
Lani Hall-Love Song
Gene Harris-Koko & Lee
Doug Carn-Higher Ground
Junior Mance-Tin Tin Deo
Michael Franks-Monkey See Monkey Do
Phil Ranelin-Vibes From The Tribe
Bill Conti-Reflections
Joe McDuphrey Experience-Solar Waves
Jimmy Owens-What's the Use
Jack McDuff-Pressure Gauge



Charles Rouse-Hopscotch
Port Authority-PA Blues
Jeff Lorber-Rain Dance
Grant Green-Ain't It Funky Now
Richard Evans-Patutu
Buddy Rich-Big Mac
Philadelphia-Inner City Blues
Tribe-Beneficient

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Rhythym and Blues is the most fervent sound in pop music. It appeals to kids when they're young and expect a lot out of life. When a person gets older, he understands there's only so much to be gotten out of life. He doesn't have to have excitement all the time."
-Sam Cooke

John Waters Is a Very Nice Fellow
Despite having a reputation as a filthy degenerate filmmaker(to be fair, he has hardly been filthy since the 70s, and much of his post-Divine work has been chock full of 'family values'), John Waters is a gracious and polite gentleman. My wife and I had the pleasure to meet him briefly at a book signing last night in DC, and it was a real thrill.
Having been a youngster when he was being branded an outlaw artist and underground hero in 70s Baltimore, I came to love Waters' odd sensibility and devastating wit in my college years. It was just what I needed to mentally combat the stifling rigidity of the Christian college I was attending(another long story...let's just say John Waters was not about to get a call to come speak at Bethel College).

HAIRSPRAY was the film that blew Waters up with the mainstream audiences, and I was lucky enough to have seen it in the theatres when it was released. Once that opened my eyes, I rented his back catalog available at my local video store....MONDO TRASHO, MULTIPLE MANIACS, PINK FLAMINGOS.

CRYBABY and SERIAL MOM were still up around the bend, further exploring his taste for movie musicals(which would eventually culminate in Hairspray evolving into a HUGE Broadway hit) and everyday life co-existing with an obsession with serial killers and conspicuous criminality. It was during this time in the late 80s I discovered my two favorite John Waters' films, POLYESTER and the supreme marriage of compelling narrative, high concept and gutter trash, FEMALE TROUBLE.
FEMALE TROUBLE is in my humble opinion, Waters' magnum opus, his statement of purpose. I know that a lot of people credit PINK FLAMINGOS as the flick that propelled him beyond Baltimore into the World's Arbitor of Bad Taste, but I would argue that it's the most satisfying and incisive writing of his pre-Hairspray career. Funny, tragic, horrible,sexy, repulsive, irresponsible,hysterical...this film has it ALL. Divine is finally captured portraying an actual character, even if it is all her on a magnificent scale. The not-at-all cautionary tale of Dawn Davenport, juvie deliquent turned model/killer/deathrow inmate is really something one has to experience in all it's glory to fully appreciate John Waters' ouvre. Back in print in a great mid-priced DVD, replete with Waters' excellent commentary.
Also available again on DVD is POLYESTER. This is Divine's most subtle performance, and really shows that she had so much more to offer than a drag act. This film is the story of Francine Fishpaw, a suburban MD housewife pushed to the edge, a modern-day Job, attacked on all sides by the likes of her porno-theatre-owner husband and her sadistic and cruel mother. The film features great performances by Waters' regulars Edith Massey and Mink Stole, but the most odd turn is by ex-teen idol and matinee idol, Tab Hunter. Hunter chews scenery like the old pro that he is, and his scenes with Divine are a crack-up. The film uses the theatre gimmick, Odorama, which is really just a tip-of-the-hat to director William Castle and utilizes a series of scratch-n-sniffs on a card to coincide with numbers flashed on the screen. In the commentary Waters' describes watching a whole theatre full of people knowingly scratch and sniff what they KNEW was going to smell like a fart. Again, the commentary is a must-listen. Also, look for Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys as Francine's slutty daughter's deliquent boyfriend.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Parents should worry if their children haven't been arrested by the time they turn sixteen."
-John Waters

TONIGHT! DCDigga spins @ Saint-Ex JAZZ CORNER is from 6PM to 9PM TONIGHT

To quote the man himself, DCDigga:

"So I have to annouce the funkiest and most spiritually uplifting set of sounds you will hear anywhere in the city. Expect plenty of raw spiritual and funky jazz sounds, so even the biggest record baller can stand up in the crowd and yell prowdly "shit yeah!"

Can't put it any clearer than that. Go ahead.

See ya there, corner of 14th and T in NW DC, about 2 blocks from the U Street Metro Station. In the basement lounge of Saint-Ex, Gate 54 .

COZMIK CLINTON
and other Flea Market Finds

I think that some things just speak for themselves, and don't require a lot of editorializing. It is in this spirit that I am completing this week's first update. I submit, for your consideration, several items I have found over the last few years at DC area Flea markets.

This, found on this past Halloween weekend, is interesting to say the least. An original mixed-media portrait of President Bill Clinton, artist unknown. I have titled it "Cozmik Clinton".
Next we have a great carnival remnant from the 80s, the requisite framed Led Zep black light glitter print. NOT FOR SALE so don't even ask.Finally, my 'Bowler's Decanter', a bowling ball with a bar built in. Swanky, and one of my faves.


QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Everything that IS was once IMAGINED."
-Ted Joans

JAZZ CORNER OF THE WORLD:
The Day After Update

The Selector, just trying to take care of some business.
The patrons, just trying to get their drink on.

A big thanks to everyone who came out to relax and have a good time last night.

Make sure you mark your calendars with a big highlighter on every Wednesday of every month, "THE JAZZ CORNER-Saint-Ex 7pm-AWESOME!!!!!", it helps you to remember where you need to be on a weekly basis.
We'll see ya next week!


THE PLAYLIST: 11/2/5


Nat Adderley and the Big Sax Section-The Old Country
Keno Duke/Contemporaries-Sense of Values
Johnny Coles-Jano
Sonny Clark-Sonny's Crib
Clare Fischer-Artifact
Booker Little-Gichi
John Coltrane-Blues To Elvin
Hank Mobley-Smokin'




Freddie Hubbard-Backlash
Horace Silver-Mexican Hip Dance
Latin Jazz Quintet-Rip a Dip
Bud Shank-Samba de Orpheu
Kenny Dorham-Sao Paulo
Dizzy Gillespie and the Big Band-The Swords
Odell Brown and the Organ-izers-Raising The Roof
Jackie McLean-Fidel



Lou Donaldson-Funky Mama
Elvin Jones-Mr. Jones
John Patton-Barefootin'
Grant Green-Ain't It Funky Now
Monette Sudler-Congo
Gabor Szabo-Sombrero Sam
Billy Brooks-Fourty Days
Crusaders-Stomp and Buck Dance
Quincy Jones-Hikky-Burr



Cannonball Adderley-Walk Tall/Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Gil Scott-Heron-The Bottle
Gary Bartz-Celestial Blues
Alphonse Mouzon-Funky Snake Foot
Weldon Irvine-Love Your Brother
Jiro Inagaki and Chuck Rainey Rhythym Section-UFO





In Memoriam / Rest In Power
It is with great sorrow that we acknowledge the passing of one of America's Great Elders, the indomitable Rosa Parks. There is nothing that I can say to do justice to this woman's achievements, so I will offer up this quote in her own words:

"When I made that decision, I knew that I had the strength of my ancestors with me."

And now your strength is with all of us. God Bless.
Rosa Parks 1913-2005